DOST’s help on Kamuning Bakery impresses writer Wilson Lee Flores

Writer Wilson Lee Flores wasn’t keen on working with government when it came to the 77-year old Kamuning Bakery and Café that he owns but the Department of Science and Technology’s persistence eventually wore him down and even impressed him.

The DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) which helps small and medium enterprises utilize and adopt technological innovations and scientific processes to improve business efficiency and productivity managed to convince Flores that his bakery needed a technology boost.

“They (DOST) gave us advice and assistance even on things we don’t ask about. Kaya magaling sila. And they’re very friendly. Amazed ako. They’re really, very surprisingly good,” Flores said of his encounter with the government office.

DOST-SETUP provided Kamuning Bakery a loan to acquire equipment such as a spiral mixer, planetary mixer, roller machine (sheeter), proofer, bread slicer, and a three-deck gas oven to boost its production and improve operations.

Flores said urged small businesses not to overlook technology if they are to remain viable.
“Kasi ang misconception ng mga small businesses, only the big companies use technology.

Itong maliliit ang kailangan ang technology to cope. Kaya ang maganda sa DOST, yung tulong nila helps level the playing field for small companies in the Philippines (The small businesses have this misconception that only big businesses use technology.

People think that small businesses do everything bay hand, do things crudely, and need more people. It is assumed that only rich and big companies need technology.

But they’re already big. They already have economies of scale. The small ones are the ones that need technology to cope. The beauty of DOST is that its support helps level the playing field for small companies in the Philippines),” Flores said.